THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	17
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to drinking water.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that laboratory tests commissioned by the Environmental Working Group found hexavalent chromium (or chromium-6) in the tap water of thirty-one cities in the United States.  Of the thirty-five cities tested, Honolulu, Hawaii had the second highest level of chromium-6 in its tap water, measured at two parts per billion.

     Chromium is a naturally occurring metal that is used in a wide variety of industries, including steel manufacturing, welding, leather tanning, and the production of dyes, pigments, and alloys.  Chromium also occurs in multiple forms.  The two most common are trivalent chromium (chromium-3) and hexavalent chromium (chromium-6).  Although chromium-3 is an essential nutrient, chromium-6 has been identified since 1990 as a known human carcinogen when inhaled.  In 1992, the United States Environmental Protection Agency set the legal limit in tap water for total chromium, a mixture of chromium-3 and chromium-6, at one hundred parts per billion.  However, despite increasing evidence of the chromium-6's toxic effects, the United States Environmental Protection Agency does not have a legal limit for chromium-6 in tap water and does not require water utilities to test for it.

     The legislature finds that officials in California have responded to these troubling findings by releasing a public health goal for chromium-6 in drinking water.  California's office of environmental health hazard assessment has proposed a new public health goal of 0.02 parts per billion for chromium-6 in California's drinking water.  The legislature finds that it would be in Hawaii's best interest to establish a similar goal for chromium-6 levels throughout Hawaii.

     The purpose of this Act is to set a deadline for an enforceable chromium-6 standard for drinking water.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 340E, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§340E‑    Establishment of interim action levels for chromium-6 contamination in drinking water.  (a)  The director shall establish an interim action level of 0.02 parts per billion for chromium-6 in drinking water.

     (b)  The director shall distribute to appropriate government and private institutions for review and comment a draft risk assessment document describing the technical and scientific methods and parameters utilized to determine the interim action level for chromium-6.  This draft risk assessment document shall be completed by January 1, 2012.  The director shall consider all comments received relating to the risk assessment and revise an interim action level if necessary.  The draft risk assessment and all comments received by the director shall be made available to the public for review.

     (c)  The director shall use the draft risk assessment document and all comments received relating to the risk assessment and set an enforceable chromium-6 standard for Hawaii's drinking water.  This final enforceable standard shall be completed by January 1, 2013."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

Drinking Water; Chromium-6

 

Description:

Establishes an interim action level of 0.02 parts per billion for chromium-6 in drinking water.  A final enforceable standard for chromium-6 shall be in place by January 1, 2013.

 

 

 

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